Harvesting machine deslugging mechanism

ABSTRACT

A remotely controlled deslugging mechanism for removing trapped material from between a threshing cylinder and an adjacent concave of a harvesting machine. The deslugging mechanism includes a fluid ram having a cylinder pivoted about an axis laterally offset to one side and above the pivot axis of the threshing cylinder with a piston rod extending above the axis for the threshing cylinder. The threshing cylinder shaft has a ratchet wheel rotatable therewith and the piston rod has a cooperating pawl so that extension and retraction of the piston rod will cause the threshing cylinder to be rotated in a direction opposite to the normal direction of rotation to remove any &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;slug&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; of material from between the cylinder and the concave. The pawl is normally maintained in engagement with the ratchet wheel by gravity and the mechanism incorporates means for normally maintaining a pawl spaced from the ratchet wheel to accommodate normal rotation of said threshing cylinder.

United States Patent I 72] Inventor Thomas Evans Bettendorf, Iowa [21]Appl. No. 16,416

[22] Filed Mar. 4, 1970 [45] Patented Sept. 28, 1971 [73] Assignee J.I.Case Company [54] HARVESTING MACHINE DESLUGGING MECHANISM 10 Claims, 6Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.CI 130/27 AC, 1415/1316. 3 [51] Int. Cl A01f 12/28 [50] Fieldof Search 130/27 R, 27 FC, 27 H [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 2,376,618 5/1945 Paradise et aI FOREIGN PATENTS 1,186,097 2/1959France Primary Examiner-Antonio F. Guida Attorney-Dressler, Goldsmith,Clement & Gordon ABSTRACT: A remotely controlled deslugging mechanismfor removing trapped material from between a threshing cylinder and anadjacent concave of a harvesting machine. The deslugging mechanismincludes a fluid ram having a cylinder pivoted about an axis laterallyoffset to one side and above the pivot axis of the threshing cylinderwith a piston rod extending above the axis for the threshing cylinder.The threshing cylinder shaft has a ratchet wheel rotatable therewith andthe piston rod has a cooperating pawl so that extension and retractionof the piston rod will cause the threshing cylinder to be rotated in adirection opposite to the normal direction of rotation to remove anyslug" of material from between the cylinder and the concave. The pawl isnormally maintained in engagement with the ratchet wheel by gravity andthe mechanism incorporates means for normally maintaining a pawl spacedfrom the ratchet wheel to accommodate normal rotation of said threshingcylinder.

PATENTED SEP28 IBYI SHEET 2 or 2 IlhutVESTllNG MACHINE DESLIUGGINGMECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relatesgenerally to harvesting machines and, more particularly, to mechanicalmeans for removing slugs from such machines.

Harvesting machines, such as combines and threshers, are usuallyprovided with a rotary threshing or crop treating cylinder, which ismounted for rotation about a fixed axis in close proximity to astationary, adjustable curved plate, normally called a concave. Thespacing between the adjacent surfaces of the threshing cylinder and theconcave is generally a small radial dimension so that harvested materialis scuffed or threshed by the relative action between the cylinder andconcave to remove or hull the grain from the chaff.

For efficient threshing, it is particularly important that the clearanceor spacing between the stationary concave and the rotating cylinder beproperly adjusted because if adjusted too wide, unhulled grain is leftin the straw and thereby wasted, whereas if adjusted too narrow, thekernels are broken resulting in an inferior crop harvest.

While various mechanisms have been proposed to properly adjust theoptimum spacing between the concave and cylinder, difficulties have beenencountered when an excessive amount of crop material, known as a slugenters the space suddenly and overloads the machinery, which in manyinstances causes the cessation of rotation of the threshing cylinder.While various types of mechanisms have been proposed for allowing theconcave to be separated from the cylinder, an additional distance toallow the slug to be passed from between the cylinder and the concave byadditional rotation of the cylinder, many times the slug is ofsufficient size so that it may not be removed by this method. Thus, ithas been conventional practice in instances of this type, for theoperator to shut down the machinery and place a bar into a hole in thecylinder shaft and manually rotate the cylinder shaft in a directionopposite to the normal direction of rotation while the concave is in thelowered position.

Such an arrangement is not only annoying to the operator, since it isnecessary for him to get off the operators platform, but requires aconsiderable amount of time. Thus, there is a dire need for a mechanicaldevice for removing slugs for trapped harvested material from betweenthe cylinder andthe concave and that the device is controlled from theoperators station.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates a remotelycontrolled mechanism or means for rotating a threshing cylinderin adirection opposite to the normal direction of rotation so that a slugtrapped between the threshing cylinder and an adjacent concave mayreadily be removed.

The remotely controlled mechanism or deslugging means of the presentinvention is in the form of fluid motor means having first and secondelements with one of the elements pivoted about an axis spaced from thethreshing cylinder and the other of the elements having a free end injuxtaposed relation to the pivot axis of the threshing cylinder. Thefree end of the other of the elements and the adjacent end of thecylinder have cooperating means for rotating the threshing cylinder in adirection opposite to the normal direction of rotation The counterrotation is accomplished by extension and retraction of the elements,forming part of the fluid motor means.

In the illustrated embodiment, the cooperating means is in the form of asprocket or ratchet wheel fixed to the threshing cylinder shaft with apawl or drive means carried by the free end of the fluid motor means toengage the teeth of the wheel and cause counterrotation of the threshingcylinder.

In its optimum embodiment, a present invention contemplates mounting thefluid motor means or cylinder and piston rod, so that the pawl islocated above and normally spaced from the ratchet wheel and stored inthis position. When the threshing area becomes clogged, the desluggingmechanism is released and placed in engagement by gravity for thedeslugging operation. and placed BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWSOF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a harvestingmachine having the present invention incorporated therein;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, side elevation view taken generally along line22 of FIG. 1, showing the deslugging mechanism in its stored position;

FIG. 3 is a plan view taken along lines 33 of FIG, 2 showing thedeslugging mechanism of the present invention in its retracted position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation view of the desluggingmechanism in one of the operative positions;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the deslugging mechanism in asecond operative position; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view ofa portion of thecab of the harvesting machine shown in GIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION While this invention is susceptible of embodimentin many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinbe described in detail one specific embodiment, with the understandingthat the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification ofthe principles of the invention and is not intended to limit theinvention to the embodiment FIG. 1 of the drawings discloses afragmentary perspective view of a harvesting machine, such as a combine,generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The harvesting machineincludes a threshing or crop treating cylinder 12 with an arcuateconcave 14 disposed below the cylinder and spaced from the peripheralsurface thereof. The threshing cylinder is normally rotated about afixed axis defined by the cylinder shaft 16 through a suitable powersource (not shown) while the concave I4 is adjustable to vary thespacing between the concave and cylinder.

In the operation of the harvesting machine 10, the harvested crop isdelivered by a feed rake 20 to the radial spacing or area between theconcave l4 and the rotating cylinder 12 to separate the grain from theremainder of the harvested mate rial. The operator controls theoperation of T the machine from the cab or operators station 22.

Many times, particularly when the harvested material has a certainamount of moisture content and the harvested grain is of rather heavyconsistency, such as rice, there is a tendency for some of the materialto be delivered from the feed rake 20 to the threshing area defined bythe cylinder 12 and the concave 14 in the form of a slug," which maycause the plugging of the combine to stop the cylinder 12. Furthermore,at other times, foreign objects, such as stones, pieces of wood or thelike, may inadvertently be drawn into the mechanism and jam or preventrotation of the threshing cylinder 12.

As was indicated above, it has been customary to release the adjustingmechanism (not shown) which supports the concave 14 to increase thespacing between the concave and the threshing cylinder. However, becauseof the limited space below the area of the concave and the constructionof the adjusting mechanism, it may not be possible to move the concavesufficiently and allow for a sufficient expansion of the slug" so thatthe slug will still tend to prevent rotation of the threshing cylinder,even when the concave is moved to the most remote position. In instancessuch as this, it has been customary for the operator to dismount fromthe operator station and to insert a bar into a hole in the cylindershaft 16 to rotate the shaft in a direction opposite to the normalrotation thereof and force the slug" forwardly sufficiently therebyallowing the material to expand and be separated for reentry into thethreshing area for further processing.

In present-day agricultural operations, such a time consuming manner ofcorrecting a malfunction is extremely undesirable Furthermore, in manyharvesting machines of this type, the complexity of the machine resultsin considerable congestion around surrounding opposite ends of the shaft16 for the cylinder 12. Thus, it becomes extremely difficult to insertthe bar and allow sufficient room for maneuvering and getting the properleverage required for counterrotation of the cylinder.

However, according to the present invention, all of the problemsrelating to deslugging ofa harvesting machine are alleviated by a simpleand efficient remotely controlled mechanism, which readily can beincorporated into harvesting machines presently in existence. Thedeslugging mechanism or means is designed to be operated from theoperator's station or cab 22 while the operator remains in the seat.

The remotely controlled deslugging mechanism is shown in FIGS. 2 throughand is generally designated by the reference numeral 30. The desluggingmechanism is capable of rotating the threshing cylinder in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, which is opposite tothe normal direction of rotation of the cylinder about its axis definedby the shaft 16. The deslugging mechanism 30 includes fluid motor meansor a fluid ram 32 having a first element or fluid cylinder 34 pivotedabout a fixed axis extending parallel to and laterally offset from theaxis of the shaft 16. The fixed axis is defined by a bolt 36 extendingthrough a bracket 30 with the cylinder 34 being supported on the bolt byan apertured lug 40. The fluid motor means or ram 32 further includes asecond element or piston rod 42, which is extensible and retractablerelative to the cylinder 34 and has a free end thereof in juxtaposedrelation to the threshing cylinder shaft 16. The free end of the pistonrod and an extension on the shaft 16 have cooperating means for rotatingthe threshing cylinder in response to extension and retraction of thepiston rod relative to the cylinder 34. The cooperating means includesdrive means on the free end of the piston rod in the form of anextension 44 fixedly secured to the free end of the piston rod 42 and apawl 46 supported on the free end of the extension 44. The cooperatingmeans further includes a ratchet or sprocket wheel 48 having a pluralityof teeth 50 defined at circumferentially spaced locations thereon withthe teeth being the springs exposed to and vertically aligned with thepawl 46. The respective teeth 50 are interconnected by inclined walls52, which define camming surfaces, for a purpose which will be describedhereinafter.

The deslugging mechanism or means 30 further includes means forextending and retracting the relatively movable elements 34 and 42. Forthis purpose, the fluid motor means or ram 32 is a single-acting orone-way ram in which the head end of the cylinder 34 is connected to asource of pressured fluid (not shown) through a conduit 56 to extend thepiston rod 42 and the conduit 56 is connected to a reservoir toaccommodate the retraction of the piston rod 42 by some external means.The supply of fluid is controlled by a valve (not shown). In theillustrated embodiment, the retraction of the piston rod is accomplishedby biasing means in the form of a pair of springs 58 located on oppositesides of the fluid ram 32 and each having one end connected to a bolt 60forming part of the connection between the piston rod 42 and theextension 44. The opposite ends of the springs are connected to thebracket 38. Thus, the springs or biasing means 58 normally maintain thepiston rod in the retracted position relative to the cylinder 34, whilea supply of pressure fluid to the head end of the fluid cylinder 34 willovercome the biasing means and move the piston rod to an extendedposition,

In order to accommodate normal rotation of the threshing cylinder whenthere is no slug clogging the machine. It is further desirable toprovide remotely controlled means for storing the device in a positionto maintain the pawl 46 and the ratchet wheel 48 spaced a sufficientdistance so that the ratchet wheel can rotate freely without contactingthe pawl. The remotely controlled means is preferably controlled by theoperator while he is seated on the seat in the cab or operators station.

ln the illustrated embodiment, the remotely controlled means is shown asa chain 70 having one end connected to the bolt 60 through an L-shapedbracket 72 with the opposite end of the chain having a knob 74 securedthereto and disposed adjacent the operators station ofthe harvestingmachine. The respective links adjacent the opposite end of the chain 70are adapted to be received in a slot 76 defined by a pair of spacedbrackets 78 extending from a sidewall 80 forming part of the operatorsstation.

The operation of the deslugging mechanism of the present invention isbelieved to be apparent from the above description, but a summary of theoperation will now be described. Normally, the deslugging mechanism isheld in the stored posi tion shown in FIG. 2 by having a selected linkof the chain 70 received in the slot 76. In this position, the threshingcylinder 12 is capable of being rotated in a counterclockwise direction,as viewed in FlG. 2, to perform the necessary threshing operation incooperation with the concave 14. If, for any reason, the threshingcylinder 12 becomesjammed, such as when a slug of material is receivedbetween the concave l4 and the threshing cylinder 12, causing a pluggingof the threshing section, it is only necessary for the operator to lowerthe adjustable concave to its lowermost position and release theremotely controlled means or chain 70 from the recess 76. Release of thelatch means will allow the fluid ram 32 (in its retracted position) tobe pivoted by gravity about the pivot axis 36 which is located on oneside and above the axis of the shaft 16, so that the pawl or drive means46 will be in contacting engagement with the peripheral surface of thewheel 48. Thereafter, a supply of pressure fluid from a source (notshown) to the conduit 56 will cause the piston rod 42 to be extended,forcing the pawl or pin 46 into engagement with one of the teeth 50,thereby rotating the cylinder 12 in the direction opposite to the normaldirection of rotation. When the piston rod 42 is in its fully extendedposition, the supply of pressure fluid is discontinued and the conduit56 is connected to a fluid reservoir (not shown) to allow the springs 58to automatically return the piston rod to its fully retracted position.

During the retraction of the piston rod 42, the pin 46 will slide on theinclined walls or arcuate camming surfaces 52 located between theadjacent teeth and will assume the position shown in FIG. 4 in its fullyretracted position. A further supply of pressure fluid to conduit 56will again extend the piston rod 42, causing engagement of the pawl 46with a next adjacent tooth 50 and further rotate the threshing cylinderan additional increment. This operation is continued until theobstruction or slug has been removed from between the concave and thethreshing cylinder. Thereafter, the deslugging mechanism is returned toits stored position (shown in FIG. 2) and the concave is returned to itsoperative position for further operation of the harvesting machine.

It will be appreciated that the present invention provides a simple andeffective manner of mechanically removing any obstruction from betweenthe concave and the threshing cylinder. The present device can readilybe incorporated into harvesting machines presently in the field in theform of a kit supplied to the harvesting machine owner.

While the present invention has been shown in an illustrativeembodiment, many parts of the deslugging mechanism could readily bemodified without departing from the basic concept of the presentinvention. For example, the remotely controlled means for storing ornormally maintaining the pawl 46 and wheel 48 spaced from each othercould take the form of a solenoid having a core connected to thedeslugging mechanism with the solenoid being energized to move themechanism to a stored position. Alternatively, the remotely controlledmeans could be a fluid device which could in turn be operated by theselector valve (not shown) for supplying pressured fluid to andexhausting fluid from the conduit 56. For example, when the valve wasturned to a deslugging position, the remotely controlled means wouldautomatically drop the deslugging mechanism to an operative position andthe deslugging mechanism would be moved to a stored or raised positionwhen the valve was turned from the deslugging position.

camming Another modification which readily comes to mind is that thesingle acting or one-way fluid ram 32 could be replaced by adoubleaacting ram with conduits connected to opposite ends of thecylinder of the ram and the extension and retraction of the piston rodcould then be completely controlled by the supply of pressure fluid toand from the cylinder.

What is claimed is:

1. ln a harvesting machine having a threshing cylinder rotated in onedirection about a horizontal axis and a concave supported adjacent saidcylinder for separating harvesting material, the improvement of aremotely controlled mechanism for rotating said threshing cylinder in anopposite direction; said mechanism comprising a fluid cylinder having ahead end pivoted about an axis laterally offset from said cylinder axis;a piston rod extensible and retractable in said piston rod; andcooperating means on said free end portion and said one end of saidthreshing cylinder for rotating said threshing cylinder said oppositedirection in response to extension of said piston rod.

2. A harvesting machine as defined in claim 1, including the furtherimprovement of remotely controlled means for normally maintaining saidcooperating means separated sufficiently to accommodate rotation of saidthreshing cylinder in said one direction 3. A harvesting machine asdefined in claim 1, in which said means for extending and retractingsaid piston rod comprises biasing means normally maintaining said pistonrod in a retracted position and means for supplying pressured fluid tosaid head end of said fluid cylinder for overcoming said biasing meansand moving said piston rod to an extended position.

4. A harvesting machine as defined in claim 1, in which said cooperatingmeans comprises a ratchet wheel rotatable with said threshing cylinderand having a peripheral surface defining spaced teeth with inclinedwalls interconnecting said teeth; and a member on said free end portionfor engaging said teeth during extension of said piston rod, saidinclined walls defining surfaces accommodating relative movement betweensaid member and said wheel during retraction of said piston rod.

5. in a harvesting machine having a rotary crop treating cylinder and aconcave supported adjacent said cylinder with said cylinder rotated inone direction for separating harvested material, the improvement ofremotely controlled deslugging means for removing trapped harvestedmaterial from between said cylinder and concave and comprising: aratchet wheel supported on said cylinder; fluid motor means comprisingfirst and second elements, one of said elements pivoted about an axisspaced from said wheel, the other of said elements having a free end injuxtaposed relation to said wheel; drive means on said free end adaptedto engage the peripheral surface of said wheel; and means for extendingand retracting said elements to move said drive means and engages saidwheel to rotate said cylinder in an opposite direction, whereby toremove trapped material from between said cylinder and concave.

6. A harvesting machine as defined in claim 1, in which said ratchetwheel has teeth exposed to said drive means with camming surfacesbetween said teeth, and said five means is located above said ratchetwheel to be maintained in contacting engagement with said wheel bygravity, the further improvement of remote control means normallymaintaining said drive means spaced from said wheel.

7. A harvesting machine as defined in claim 5, in which said fluid motormeans comprises a one-way cylinder and piston rod defining said elementsand said last means includes biasing means normally maintaining saidpiston rod in a retracted position.

8. In combination with a harvesting machine having a cylinder rotatedabout a fixed axis in a given direction and a concave supported belowand spaced from the peripheral surface of said cylinder to receiveharvested material therebetween; a deslugging mechanism comprising fluidmotor means having a first element pivoted about an axis spaced fromsaid cylinder and a second element extensible and retractable relativeto said first element, said second element having a free end adjacentsaid cylinder axis; means for extending and retracting said secondelement relative to said first element; and cooperating means on saidfree end and said cylinder for rotating said cylinder in an oppositedirection in response to extension and retraction of said elements.

9. The combination as defined in claim 8, in which said cooperatingmeans includes an extension on said free end of said second element; apawl fixed to said extension; and a wheel connected to said cylinder andhaving sprocket teeth exposed to and aligned with said member, saidwheel having arcuate camming surfaces between said sprocket teethaccommodating relative movement of said pawl between said teeth.

10. The combination as defined in claim 9, including the furtherimprovement of remotely controlled means normally maintaining said pawl,spaced from said wheel.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent 3.608.657Dated Sentember 28. 1971 lnvent fl Thomas Evans It is certified thaterror appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 64, there should be a period after "rotation".

Column 2, line 3, delete "and lalaced" and "Brief Description of theSeveral Views of Drawings" should be a center heading.

Column 2, line 18, "Gig 1" should be "Fig 1". Column 2, line 27, add"illustrated." after embodiment.

Column 2, line delete "T".

Column 3, line 2 "30" should be 38".

Column 3, line 39 delete "the springs".

Column 3, line 65, machine. It is" should be "machine, it is".

Column 5, line 3, doubleaacting" should be "doubleacting same column 5,line 16, fluid cylinder, said piston rod having a free end portiondisposed above said threshing cylinder axis adjacent one end of saidthreshing cylinder; means for extending and retrating said should beinserted after line 15;

Column 5, line 18, insert "in' after "cylinder".

Column 6, line 7, "engages" should be "engage".

Column 6, line 12, "five means should be "drive means".

Signed and sealed this 6th day of June 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.F'LETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents RM PO USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 fi l.|.S GOVERNHENY PRINTING OFFICE1969 O355'334

1. In a harvesting machine having a threshing cylinder rotated in onedirection about a horizontal axis and a concave supported adjacent saidcylinder for separating harvesting material, the improvement of aremotely controlled mechanism for rotating said threshing cylinder in anopposite direction; said mechanism comprising a fluid cylinder having ahead end pivoted about an axis laterally offset from said cylinder axis;a piston rod extensible and retractable in said fluid cylinder, saidpiston rod having a free end portion disposed above said threshingcylinder axis adjacent one end of said threshing cylinder; means forextending and retracting said piston rod; and cooperating means on saidfree end portion and said one end of said threshing cylinder forrotating said threshing cylinder said opposite direction in response toextension of said piston rod.
 2. A harvesting machine as defined inclaim 1, including the further improvement of remotely controlled meansfor normally maintaining said cooperating means separated sufficientlyto accommodate rotation of said threshing cylinder in said onedirection.
 3. A harvesting machine as defined in claim 1, in which saidmeans for extending and retracting said piston rod comprises biasingmeans normally maintaining said piston rod in a retracted position andmeans for supplying pressured fluid to said head end of said fluidcylinder for overcoming said biasing means and moving said piston rod toan extended position.
 4. A harvesting machine as defineD in claim 1, inwhich said cooperating means comprises a ratchet wheel rotatable withsaid threshing cylinder and having a peripheral surface defining spacedteeth with inclined walls interconnecting said teeth; and a member onsaid free end portion for engaging said teeth during extension of saidpiston rod, said inclined walls defining camming surfaces accommodatingrelative movement between said member and said wheel during retractionof said piston rod.
 5. In a harvesting machine having a rotary croptreating cylinder and a concave supported adjacent said cylinder withsaid cylinder rotated in one direction for separating harvestedmaterial, the improvement of remotely controlled deslugging means forremoving trapped harvested material from between said cylinder andconcave and comprising: a ratchet wheel supported on said cylinder;fluid motor means comprising first and second elements, one of saidelements pivoted about an axis spaced from said wheel, the other of saidelements having a free end in juxtaposed relation to said wheel; drivemeans on said free end adapted to engage the peripheral surface of saidwheel; and means for extending and retracting said elements to move saiddrive means and engage said wheel to rotate said cylinder in an oppositedirection, whereby to remove trapped material from between said cylinderand concave.
 6. A harvesting machine as defined in claim 1, in whichsaid ratchet wheel has teeth exposed to said drive means with cammingsurfaces between said teeth, and said drive means is located above saidratchet wheel to be maintained in contacting engagement with said wheelby gravity, the further improvement of remote control means normallymaintaining said drive means spaced from said wheel.
 7. A harvestingmachine as defined in claim 5, in which said fluid motor means comprisesa one-way cylinder and piston rod defining said elements and said lastmeans includes biasing means normally maintaining said piston rod in aretracted position.
 8. In combination with a harvesting machine having acylinder rotated about a fixed axis in a given direction and a concavesupported below and spaced from the peripheral surface of said cylinderto receive harvested material therebetween; a deslugging mechanismcomprising fluid motor means having a first element pivoted about anaxis spaced from said cylinder and a second element extensible andretractable relative to said first element, said second element having afree end adjacent said cylinder axis; means for extending and retractingsaid second element relative to said first element; and cooperatingmeans on said free end and said cylinder for rotating said cylinder inan opposite direction in response to extension and retraction of saidelements.
 9. The combination as defined in claim 8, in which saidcooperating means includes an extension on said free end of said secondelement; a pawl fixed to said extension; and a wheel connected to saidcylinder and having sprocket teeth exposed to and aligned with saidmember, said wheel having arcuate camming surfaces between said sprocketteeth accommodating relative movement of said pawl between said teeth.10. The combination as defined in claim 9, including the furtherimprovement of remotely controlled means normally maintaining said pawl,spaced from said wheel.